Administrative charges could be filed against executives of local government units who have yet to comply with the anti-epal circular issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The warning was aired by anti-corruption advocate Atty. Oliver T. Rodulfo, who told the Tribune that last year, even before Secretary Jonvic Remulla issued the circular, he (Rodulfo) had already filed a case before the Ombudsman against two officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over a similar offense.
An inspection of several public buildings, including multipurpose halls, waiting sheds and barangay halls, as well as a bus, would show that the LGUs who own the properties have yet to remove the public officials’ initials, motto or slogan.
Encouraging citizens to document and report violations through official channels, Sec. Remulla said heads of offices will be held accountable for ensuring immediate compliance and the removal of non-compliant materials.
Atty. Rodulfo disclosed that last August 2025, he filed a complaint-affidavit before the Ombudsman against former DPWH Catanduanes District Engineering Office (DEO) District Engineer Simon Arias and Construction Section chief Engr. Nestor Rojas for gross misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a public official and violation of DPWH Department Order No. 141, series of 2016, and D.O. No. 21, series of 2017, and Section 19 of the General Appropriations Act of 2025, and violation of Section 3e of Republic Act 2019, and RA 6713.
Engr. Arias was recently promoted as regional director of DPWH Central Visayas after leaving the Catanduanes DEO in August last year.
Rodulfo’s complaint involves the encryption of the political slogan of the incumbent congressman of the Lone District of Catanduanes, particularly the “Catandunganon ALISTO” motto, on multipurpose buildings and evacuation centers constructed by DPWH all over the province.
He underscored that since 2013 when he was still mayor of Bato, the solon has used the “ALISTO” motto as his political slogan, with its use on DPWH projects making an impression among the public that these are owned and constructed personally by the congressman.
The retired chief of the DPWH regional legal division said that despite numerous letters, the respondent DE failed to remove the slogans and continued to place the encryptions on numerous buildings implemented by the district.
Rodulfo stressed the two officials’ open defiance and brazen disregard of the department orders and GAA provisions constitute gross misconduct and violation of Sec. 3e of RA 3019 by causing undue injury to the public and government and giving unwarranted benefit or advantage to the incumbent congressman.
The respondents acted with evident bad faith and/or gross inexcusable negligence in ordering their workers to install the political slogan “Catandunganon ALISTO” in the façade of DPWH multipurpose buildings and evacuation centers.
The lawyer sought the immediate preventive suspension of the two DPWH officials and after trial their dismissal from the service.
Both respondents reportedly claimed in their counter-affidavit that the aforesaid buildings and centers have already been turned over to the LGU end-users.
Among the public buildings and vehicles spotted with “epal” markings in Virac are several waiting sheds marked “BRGY. COMMUTERS SHELTER” with the “B” and “T” highlighted, barangay halls and multipurpose buildings painted with “Catandunganon ALISTO,” multipurpose buildings painted with “Catanduanes Serbihan,” and a Virac LGU bus marked “Serbisyong Malinis, Serbisyong Mabilis” and bearing the Go Shine Virac logo.